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UK children to be taught how to spot extremist content and fake news online (www.theguardian.com)

submitted 3 months ago by girlfreddy@lemmy.ca to c/world@lemmy.world

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Children will be taught how to spot extremist content and misinformation online under planned changes to the school curriculum, the education secretary said.

Bridget Phillipson said she was launching a review of the curriculum in primary and secondary schools to embed critical thinking across multiple subjects and arm children against “putrid conspiracy theories”.

One example may include pupils analysing newspaper articles in English lessons in a way that would help differentiate fabricated stories from true reporting.

In computer lessons, they could be taught how to spot fake news websites by their design, and maths lessons may include analysing statistics in context.

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[-] Strawberry@sh.itjust.works 50 points 3 months ago

basic media literacy is really needed, hopefully it doesn't come with any political bias built in

[-] Zachariah@lemmy.world 36 points 3 months ago

All information has a bias, so teach that it all has a bias and ways to figure out the biases. Also include that we all have biases in everything we think.

[-] Strawberry@sh.itjust.works 11 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago)

that is probably the best way to go about it. I worry they'll simplify or strip away too much nuance. But if done well this can be great initiative

[-] SteveFromMySpace@lemmy.blahaj.zone 5 points 3 months ago

To not do that would be to strip out all the nuance.

[-] frunch@lemmy.world 4 points 3 months ago

It's biases all the way down!

[-] DrCake@lemmy.world 10 points 3 months ago

I think that’s pretty much impossible to achieve. One persons far-right content, is another’s “common sense”

[-] SteveFromMySpace@lemmy.blahaj.zone 6 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago)

There’s no such thing as history/news/etc. without bias, it’s kind of an impossible standard the public thrusts on the humanities fields. There is an expectation of “one” answer to things but that strips nuance and often does violence to “less mainstream” groups or experiences.

The example I always give of something that should be simple to answer is: when did WWII begin? If we believe these things should be neutral or unbiased or “just sticking to the facts,” there should be one concrete answer.

I also often ask folks to list one article or outlet that is “strictly fact based” and neutral.

[-] grue@lemmy.world 5 points 3 months ago

I also often ask folks to list one article or outlet that is “strictly fact based” and neutral.

And even if somebody manages to find an article they think is "strictly fact based and netural," the question then becomes "why did the news agency decide to cover that topic instead of some other topic?" The choice of what to talk about is just as subject to bias as the choice of what to say about it is.

[-] SteveFromMySpace@lemmy.blahaj.zone 1 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago)

You me?

[-] Blizzard@lemmy.zip 6 points 3 months ago

hopefully it doesn't come with any political bias built in

They would never do that! /s

[-] Cheems@lemmy.world 3 points 3 months ago

Education is typically left leaning

[-] WhatAmLemmy@lemmy.world 19 points 3 months ago

Reality has a well-known left-wing bias.

That's why the right's only solution is to wage a war on reality.

this post was submitted on 11 Aug 2024

641 points (98.5% liked)

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